Howl Your Appellations

A Few Reminders

BOEN OPEOR

I set special little ringtones for each of my family members so that I'll be able to mentally prepare myself for whoever's calling me. My ringtone for each family member varies but they're all similar voice recordings of me saying: "This is [name of family member here] and I'm here to b***h to you about something again." and then I edit a little tune at the end just so there's a little added spice to it. I learned how to make short beats in high school and hearing it usually calms me down, but this time I just feel a bit uneasy.

As I'm picking up the fallen papers, I glance at the shoddy doodles I drew up for the upcoming collection. I've already cost them money by disappearing for more than three months. If I get into their bad side again, they won't let me live easily.

I look and finally sit down on my chair and look at my phone vibrating from the call. The little beat I inserted at the end of the message will soon loop again and the call will automatically end. Sis doesn't like to call again. As weird as it is that I'm receiving a call from outside of the forest, I have to answer. I don't know when she'll call me again, or if she ever will.

I reach for my phone with my sweaty hands and feel the vibration rush up my arm, I press answer and prepare my lips to say, "Hello?" I wait for a stern reprimand.

"Boen Opeor? Is that you?" a stern middle-aged woman's voice comes out of the speaker. It echoes through the metal halls.

"Yes, it's me Bennio. You don't have to call me by my full name." I roll my eyes. As much as I'm scared of her, she's my sister and there's something about being sisters that makes it easier to talk to her. I know it's supposed to be normal to be able to talk to your sisters but Bennio is not someone who's easily approachable. She's been emotionally distant and reclusive since day one.

"Oh. I was surprised to hear you got a new phone and number. That's irresponsible of you, is it not? It'll cause trouble with your online transactions if you don't manage them out now. " and here she comes reprimanding me. I roll my eyes at her statements and annoying voice.

"Yes, I know. I've already sorted it out. You don't have to tell me this." I reply, clearly taking offenses easily from my sister.

She smacks her lips and gives out a small sigh, "You shouldn't have left Halio. You're not fit to live in the forest. You've always lived in the city."

"Look, mother and father already gave me their permission, and I inherited this property. I'll stay here even if it makes my life miserable." I reply. This is exactly how I imagined she'd act like when I spend too much time away from the family's supervision. They do have an image to maintain, and I'm a variable that they need under control since I prefer my freedom more than the family business.

"I expected this much from you when I decided to call. You don't seem to have caused trouble, none of our partners has given any reports of anything unusual. But in any case, you've contacted Moze, yes?" she asks, with a bit of annoyance mixed in. She must be timing our call and it's taking longer than she needs it to be.

"Yes, the business part's at Abalone. I can't guarant---"

"Oh you're going. We need to be of full attendance and don't forget that your disappearance cost us a Cykla!" Bennio screams. I can hear her tapping her fingers on her desk.

"It's only a few Cykla! I can pay it back in a week!" I exclaim, failing to keep my cool. I need to be on good terms with her so we can discuss matters about my grandfather but it's easier said than done.

I sigh onto my mouth, "Alright, I'll go. But only on one condition." I raise my index finger to signify the number one.

Bennio sighs but has no time to argue so she held her tongue and let me propose my condition.

"About our grandfather, Magnaldo Opeor. You have to tell me everything you know about him. It's extremely important to me."

There's silence on the other side of the phone. Bennio is thinking about what to say. This is strange behavior coming from her. She finally speaks as if she's forced to do so.

"Alright, Boen, alright. I guess you've found things in his cabin that weren't to your liking? I'll tell you what I know and what the family knows about him. You at least need to hear about it now. Just make sure you come to the party."

"Yes. I promise." Bennio ends the call.

I slump down on the table and nearly dropped my phone. The call could have gone in a different direction at any time but it stayed relatively normal. I allow myself to sulk for a bit with my forehead on the counter. I flail my hands around until I decided that I needed a cold refreshment.

I take whatever's at the bottom pile of ice and tapped the top of the bottle. It's a green bottled juice. I never know what type of fruits these juices come from but they taste the same as the juice from the outside world, so questioning it isn't really important. I take large gulps of the mystery green juice and feel myself begin to calm down.

"At least she didn't ask me to hurry up with the new designs. They're all so shoddy and poorly conceptualized. I've been thinking of too many things while working." I say out loud to an imaginary audience.

Cold water always calms my nerves. I should be happy. I'm finally moving forward on my journey of self identity. I'm scared of what they might reveal to me but at least I'll have a less heavy chest, knowing that there's nothing I can so about what had already happened. I just wish I don't have to confront them alone. I have to come up with an excuse as to why I lost one of my legs, but this will be a good reason why I was gone for a few months. I know that they don't really care as long as I attend the party and not embarrass the family. I'll manage somehow.

The washing machine signals me that it has successfully finished its job. I prop myself up and move all the laundry to the dryer. There isn't a lot of clothes, they like to wash their underwear separately for some reason. But that just makes the job easier for me. I start the dryer and wait for it to signal me that it has finished its job. I take another bottled juice and sat down on my chair.

The view from the window outside glows with indifference, the wind blows its warm breeze knowing that nothing can stop it from existing. A small phone call has shifted the mood entirely for me, but the forest stays the same. It stays ethereal and unbothered. I would like to experience being a background instead of a character, it seems easier, of course, there would still be changes, but would the changes be painful? I don't think so.

The dryer is louder than the washing machine for some reason, maybe because of all the air it's using. I wonder how this afternoon is for everyone. It's pretty lonely when I think about it too much; it's like I've been eaten by a giant metallic snake and I'm the only one inside its belly... I don't think that's a very good comparison. I guess I'm a little bit tired from doing the housework, but I still have to hang these clothes before I can sleep.

"Boen!" yells young tired voice. "Boen." and again with an even younger voice. It's Kaya and Koto. The dryer also decides to call out to me. What perfect timing.

"Oh, you two! Are you guys done with...um..." I don't exactly know where they disappear to. I'm just happy that they come back every time.

"We were mingling. But it's none of your business. Are you done with laundry?" Kaya asks.

Koto has already taken two bottles of juice from the ice box and gives one to Kaya.

"Oh yeah! I noticed that there were a lot today so I decided to wash them. I'm planning on hanging them out back. I cleaned up the laundry line outside. It'll be nice to see everyone's reaction when they see it." I tell the both of them.

The two boar sisters slowly drank their juices as if it's the most delicious liquid in the world. I know exactly how that feels.

"It's a good thing you set up a checkpoint here. It's too much work going to the kitchen." Koto exclaims, clearly satisfied with my service. I'm called a pit stop and a checkpoint now.

"We'll help with hanging the clothes. We like how they look in the wind." Kaya offers and I beam with joy. I thought it'd be a bit hard for me to hang all the clothes by myself with jusyt my crutch to support me.

"How were you planning on carrying two baskets outside?"

"Oh, I was planning on taking two trips. But now I won't have to do that~!"

"Indeed you won't. Koto and I can even hang all the clothes by ourselves." Kaya brags. Koto doesn't seem to like the idea.

"Well I want to hang some of them so you'll just have to let me."

Kaya finishes her juice and Koto follows suit. I take both empty bottles from their hands and throw them on my bin. We've consumed a lot today, although mostly it's just me.

I fill the two baskets with all the pack members' clothes and let the two boar Weres carry them outside. There so cute from behind, but they can easily rip my face of with their tusks if I'm not careful. Not that they'll ever try to hurt me with their tusks.

"Whoa, you really did clean it up! Even the rust!" Kaya states in bewilderment. Koto seems equally surprised but refused to say anything.

"What made it rusty in the first place? Hm, well I can see why we wouldn't need it as much but I've got free time on my hands." I reply.

We start to hang the clothes simultaneously. The view of the forest behind the Train feels a bit more dense and eerie, even though we're already so deep within the woods. It seems more sinister in way, and I'm not saying this because of my one experience from the first time I was allowed to leave the Train. I just got my leg then.

"Are you thinking about what they're doing too?" Kaya asks while she judges me for not hanging clothes more.

"Yeah, but there's also other things. I know the pack will be alright." I reply hanging one of Reese's blouses.

"Yes, but it would be nice to see how they're training. We'd like to see how they're doing it." Kaya sighs.

"Oh? Do you guys need to train too? Wouldn't it be easier if you asked them to teach you?"

Kaya decides that Mei's polo shirt is her last entry to the laundry line. Her and Koto sit down in front of me to watch me hang the rest of the clothes myself.

"The Wolves have a different way of doing things. We are Boars. But that being said, it's easier to observe than to listen. Words can only convey so much." Kaya replies.

I never really thought of the differences between Weres but there seems to be a lot. These two are a part of the pack, but they can't join the tournaments because they're Boars. I know they want to avenge Nike in their own way.

"How do the Boars like to do things then? If you're allowed to share it with me?" I ask.

Kaya and Koto look at each other with a bit of sadness. I don't think I'm anyone special to be told secrets they've held from everyone since the beginning, but if they do decide to share it with me, I'll try my best to help them.

Koto looks at me, not with her usual bored expression but with a sadder air. It's uncomfortable to see her like this.

"Boars don't tell secrets and Boars aren't nice." Koto says then leaves.

I look to Kaya for guidance but she simply bows her head to think.

I believe that what Koto told me is the most she can reveal and I think that's enough. Here in the pack, they're the youngest members and that's what's important.

I continue to hang the laundry as Kaya and I listen to the sound of the wind in the trees. The arboreal symphony takes us to a different world, a place in the present that's almost too blissful to be true.